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Does your home insurance policy cover termite damage?
Termites in your house can be a cause for alarm, as they can threaten both your home’s and family’s well-being. Unfortunately, by the time you spot the termites, they may have already caused significant harm to your property.
Worse, the average home insurance policy usually does not cover termite damage, which is considered gradual structural damage arising from negligence or improper maintenance.
While you may be able to buy a specialised insurance policy from a pest control agency, dealing with termite damage can be expensive. You need to be particularly careful about termite damage if you are buying a house that was previously occupied.
If you are concerned about the presence of termites, consider getting your home inspected by a pest control expert, ideally before you move in, and at regular intervals afterwards. Besides helping you fix or prevent termite damage to your home, a pest control expert can also advise on how often you’ll need to take further measures. For instance, you may be able to prevent termite infestation by putting in place a soil barrier or trench around your home, with the soil coated with a termite repellent or poison, which may be effective for a few years.
You should remember that the methods pest control experts are likely to suggest, such as the soil barriers, are preventative measures and cannot help if termites are already present in your home. In such a case, termite repellent or poison may need to be applied directly to the infested areas.
If your home has been infested, you may need more than one termite control measure, depending on whether your home has vulnerable areas where timber and water are available near each other. In the event your home is infested multiple times, stronger and more frequent treatment may be required.
What is home insurance coverage for termite damage likely to cost me?
Your home insurance provider will likely not cover termite damage, which leaves you paying for the pest controller to inspect and treat your home, as well as footing the bill for any repairs. Hiring a professional pest control inspector who may use advanced imaging tools to check for termite presence under the floorboards in your home, can cost you between $250 and $500, according to Hipages.
This cost varies based on the size of the infestation, the location and construction quality of your home, and the type of treatment and chemicals used. You may have to pay more if you buy an extended warranty along with the treatment.
There are a variety of potential termite treatments that a pest control expert could recommend to help prevent termites from taking up residence in your home, or to eliminate an existing nest. The cost and effectiveness of these treatments may vary depending on the size of your home, the scope of the job, and other factors.
According to Hipages, termite control options may include:
Termite sprays, dusts, or foams
You can choose to treat termite infestation by applying termite repellents or poisons at the infested spots. This is only a temporary measure, which may need to be repeated every 6 months, and may cost you between $300 and $1000.
Soil treatment
One of the longest-lasting methods for keeping termites out of the home, soil treatment may cost between $2500 and $3500, but it should not need to be repeated as frequently as other options.
Termite barriers
You may need to install a chemical perimeter around your home as a long-term termite treatment. This may cost around $70 per square metre, so from $1800 to $5000, depending on the size of your home.
Termite baiting stations
Some pest controllers may recommend using an even more specialised technology called baiting stations, which are designed to prevent the termites from growing their colony. You may need to check from time to time if the termites are consuming the bait which contains a growth regulator. These baiting stations are meant to repel termites besides helping you monitor and prevent their growth, but termites may avoid the baiting station by finding other paths to your home. Termite baiting may cost between $2500 to $3500 at first, before being repeated at a cost of around $800.
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Product database updated 24 Apr, 2024
